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The electronic edition represents the edited text, pp. v–xii; and odd pages 1–51. Notes (52–56) and Glossary (57–62) have been omitted. The Old Irish text is available in a separate file, G503001.
Text has been checked and proof-read twice.
The electronic text represents the edited text.
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Created: Translation by Kuno Meyer (1909)
Beatrix Färber (ed.)
Beatrix Färber (ed.)
Beatrix Färber (ed.)
Beatrix Färber (text capture)
AMONG the gnomic literature of ancient Ireland, the instructions given by princes to their heirs, by tutors to their disciples, or by foster-fathers to their sons form a group by themselves. The oldest among them are those ascribed to Morann mac Móin, addressed to his foster-son Nére to be delivered by him to King Feradach Findfechtnach, who, according to the Annals of the Four Masters, was King of Ireland from 15 to 36 A.D. They are known as Audacht, Auraicept, or Tecosc Morainn ‘The Bequest, Precept, or Instruction of Morann,’ and to judge from their language were composed early in the eighth century.1
The Instructions of Cúchulaind to his foster-son Lugaid of the Red Stripes, known as Bríatharthecosc Conculaind, form an episode in the tale called the Sickbed of Cuchulaind, edited by Windisch in his Irische Texte, vol. 1, p. 213-214. They have often been translated, by O'Curry in Atlantis, vol. 1, pp. 362-392, and vol. II, pp. 98-124; by Brian O'Looney in the Facsimiles of the National MSS. of Ireland; by D'Arbois de Jubainville in L'Épopée celtique en Irlande, pp. 186 -191; and by Miss E. Hull in her Cuchuilin Saga, pp. 231-234.
A third collection of precepts and wise sayings is ascribed
Certain sayings of Fíthel are in some MSS. attributed to Flann Fina mac Ossu, by which name Aldfrid the son of king Osuiu (Oswy) of Northumberland was known in Ireland. Thus the strings of proverbs beginning respectively Atchota soichell saidbrius, Ba faitech ar ná ba fiachach, Descaid cotulta freslige, Tosach eoluis imchomairc, Ferr dán orba are ascribed to him in 23 N 10 and 23 D 2. Both these MSS. also attribute to him a number of sayings which begin like paragraph 15 of my edition of Tecosca Cormaic, and continue Dligid fí fortacht, dligid gó a cairiugud, &c. Under the heading Flann Fí beos 23 D 2 further assigns to him the following interesting piece, which, as I have never come across it in any other manuscript, I will print and translate in extenso:
In 23 N 27, p. 33, a set of sayings beginning Maith dán ecna dogní ríg do bocht is attributed to Flann Fíona mac Cosa (sic). The Instructions of Cormac have not before been published or translated in their entirety. A few selections from the text of the Book of Ballymote were translated by
L, i.e. the Book of Leinster, a MS. of the twelfth century, pp. 343-345. In spite of its age and fine penmanship this MS. does not, as I have repeatedly pointed out, supply us with accurate and trustworthy texts. The copy of Tecosca Cormaic contained in it has many faulty readings, such as ríglach (p. 343b 40) for riaglach (paragraph 3, 10), ales (p. 343b21) for ata lais (paragraph 2, 24), imtholta (p. 345, 17) for imscoltad (paragraph 22, 10), cátingud (ib. 25) for cathugud (ib.17), éthech (p. 345c) for etech (paragraph 31, 9), trebar (ib.) for trebad (ib. 10), forus (ib.) for árus (ib. 11), fuacht (ib.) for fuchacht or fuichecht (ib. 14) &c.
B, i.e. the Book of Ballymote, a MS. of the fourteenth century, pp. 62a-65a. Like L, it mixes up Tecosca Cormaic with Bríathra Fíthail, passing suddenly from Cormac dixit fri Coirpre (p. 65a13) to ol a mac fri Fíthul (ib.32). The text, though good on the whole, is never quite reliable, the scribe often blundering in an almost incredible manner.8 Several sections are left out.
Lec, i.e. the Book of Lecan, a MS. of the fifteenth century, fo. 420a-422a, and pp. 179-180 in the codex H. 2. 17 (Trin. Coll.), with which some of the leaves of the Book of Lecan are now bound up. Neither a complete nor very accurate version.
N1, i.e. the MS. marked 23 N 10 (R.I.A.) containing in its vellum portion from p. 1-6 a large fragment of our text.9 A careful and trustworthy copy on the whole.
N2, i.e. the paper MS. marked 23 N 17 (R.I.A.) written in 1714 by Domhnall Ó Duind mac Eimuinn. Here on fo. 7b-32b is a carefully written and heavily glossed copy of the Tecosca. In 1828 O'Donovan made a transcript of it which, numbered 23 O 20, is preserved in the library of the Royal Irish Academy.
D, i.e. a small paper octavo marked 23 D 2 (R.I.A.). Though written in the seventeenth century it contains in a remarkably neat hand both the most complete and by far the best copy of the Tecosca.
H1, i.e. the paper MS. numbered H. 1. 15 (Trin. Coll.), written in 1745 by Tadhg Ua Neachtain. Under the title Teagasg Riogh it contains on pp. 140-174 a fairly complete and on the whole pretty accurate copy of our text.
H2, i.e. the eighteenth-century paper manuscript numbered H. 1. 9. (Trin. Coll.) pp. 59 to the end, a poor copy, of which I have hardly made any use.
H3, i.e. the paper MS. numbered H. 4. 8. (Trin. Coll.), copied in the latter half of the seventeenth century by Dr. Joannes Beaton from a vellum manuscript. It once belonged to the Welsh antiquary Edward Lloyd, entries in English and Welsh by whom are found at the beginning of the volume. This copy also has so many defects that I have but rarely used it.
K, i.e. the sixteenth-century vellum marked VII, No. 3 in the Advocates' Library, Edinburgh. It contains from fo. 9 a1-9b2 an imperfect, but fairly good copy of our text. It breaks off with paragraph 18 of my edition.
Lastly, the paper MS. No. II among the Gaelic MSS. in the Advocates' Library in Edinburgh contains on ten pages an incomplete and faulty copy of our text written in the seventeenth century. I have not used it.10 Nor have I thought it worth while to collate throughout a copy in the Book of Húi Maine, fo. 182a-182b, as it is identical with that of B.
I have already stated that N2 is copiously glossed. Occasionally glosses are also found in B and in some of the other MSS. These glosses, like those of the Triads, were written at a time when Old-Irish was no longer understood, and are therefore of hardly any value. Besides, some of them are not explanatory, but etymological, such as ilach (paragraph 10, 4 in my edition) .i. imat focul. Many of them were collected for the purpose of forming a glossary of Old-Irish words,11 and are to be found under the title Incipit din Tecusc Rig budesta in H. 3. 18, col. 539a. A few samples will characterise them sufficiently: — argrinn goit (paragraph 2, 8) .i. tabach. airiti dála (paragraph 6, 39) .i. aentugud. turchomrac (paragraph 3, 4) .i. tinol. clandad dligid (paragraph 2, 11) .i. sadad nó cur. forsmaltaib (paragraph 2,21) .i. caithem. foltaib (paragraph 2, 2;1) .i. acra. athcomarc (paragraph 3, 6) .i. fiarfaide. diubairt (paragraph 3, 30) .i. lethtrom. deide (paragraph 1, 6) senchasa .i. damachtain nó fulang. rob sobraid (paragraph 6, 4) .i. soabraid. rop
Some of the glosses were evidently made on a text occasionally differing from ours, e.g. déide senchasa instead of dethide senchasa paragraph 1, 6. Here déitiu, the O.-Ir. verbal noun of damur or daimim (Middle-Ir. daimthiu), is rightly glossed by .i. damachtain no fulang.
I think there can be no doubt that Tecosca Cormaic in the form in which it has come down to us was compiled during the Old-Irish period of the language, and, so far as I can judge, not later than the first half of the ninth century. The numerous verbal forms which it contains seem to point to that time. The later forms of the infixed pronouns which Strachan has pointed out in Ériu III, p. 158, such as -das- or -dos-, do not appear in our text.
A tendency is occasionally apparent to link some of the lines of each paragraph together by alliteration in such a way that the initial sound of the last word in one line is repeated at the beginning of the next, e.g. paragraph 14, 4:
- luge ria mbreith,
bretha díana,
dúscud ferge
folabra gúach &c.
Professor O. J. Bergin and Dr. Whitley Stokes have had the kindness to read proofs of the text and translation, to point out mistakes and to suggest the emendations, for which I desire to express my best thanks to them.
1] ‘O grandson of Conn, Cormac,’ said Carpre, ‘what is best
for a king?’ ‘Not hard to tell,’ said Cormac. ‘Best for him
for it is through the truth of a ruler that God gives all that.’
- Firmness without anger,
Patience without strife,
5] Affability without haughtiness,
Taking care of ancient lore,
Giving truth for truth,
Hostages in fetters,
Hosting with reason,
10] Truth without addition,
Mercifulness with consolidation of law,
Peace to tribes,
Manifold sureties,
True judgments,
15] Fasting upon neighbouring territories,
Exalting privileged persons,
Honouring poets,
Worshipping great God,
Fertility during his reign
20] Taking cognizance of every wretch,
Many alms,
Mast upon trees,
Fish in river-mouths,
Earth fruitful,
25] Inviting barks into harbour,
Importing treasures from over sea,
Forfeiture of sea-waifs,
Silken raiment,
A sword-smiting troop to protect every tribe,
30] Raids across borders,
Let him attend to the sick,
Let him benefit the strong,
Let him possess truth
Let him chide falsehood,
35] Let him love righteousness,
Let him beat down fear,
Let him crush criminals,
Let him give true judgments,
Let him foster every science,,
40] Let him consolidate every peace,
Let him buy treasures,
Let him improve his soul,
Let him make known every clear judgment,
Abundance of wine and mead,
45] Let him utter every truth,
‘O grandson of Conn, Cormac,’ said Carpre, ‘what is the true right of a king?’
‘Not hard to tell. The right that rules upon the surface of the earth, I have it, let me make it known to you,’ said Cormac to Carbre.
for those are the duties of a lord towards tribes
- Let him restrain the great,
5] Let him slay evildoers,
Let him exalt the good,
Let him put down robbers,
Let him check theft,
Let him adjust relationship,
10] Let him consolidate peace,
Let him plant law,
Let him check unlawfulness,
Let him enslave criminals,
Let him set the innocent free,
15] Let him protect the just,
Let him bind the unjust,
Let him proclaim robbers,
Full forfeiture for every hand with fines,
Composition (?) with full fines where there was knowledge, with half fines where there was ignorance,
20] With due respect for a king,
With due exactions (?) for a lord,
Let him perfect the proper due of every man, of whatever is his on sea and land,
With just substances to the tribes which are his, for crimes of hand,
25] Walking about of feet,
Looking of eyes, for crimes of mouth,
With hearing of ears,
With tests of conscience,
Let him study the right of every chief,
30] Let him bring each one under law —
‘O grandson of Conn, Cormac,’ said Carpre, ‘what is best for the good of a tribe?’ ‘Not hard to tell,’ said Cormac.
that is best for the good of a tribe.
- A meeting of nobles,
5] Frequent assemblies,
An enquiring mind,
Questioning the wise,
Quelling every evil,
Fulfilling every good
10] An assembly according to rules,
Following ancient lore
A lawful synod,
A lawful lord,
Righteous chieftains,
15] Not to crush wretches,
Keeping treaties,
Mercifulness with good customs,
Consolidating kinship,
Weaving together synchronisms,
20] Fulfilling the law,
Legality of ancient alliances,
A covenant without curtailment,
Warrior-bands without overbearing,
Manliness against foes,
25] Honesty towards brothers,
Just sureties,
Full compensations,
Righteous judgments,
Honest witnesses,
30] Keeping a bargain without detriment,
Interest on detriment,
Evenly balanced substances,
Ready hiring,
Hostages for honour,
35] Lending without stint,
Acceptable loans,
An equivalent for every good,
A dignified response,
Legitimate measure,
40] Learning every art,
Knowledge of every language,
Skill in variegated work,
Pleading with established maxims,
Passing judgment with precedents,
45] Giving alms,
Mercy towards the poor,
Pledges for (carrying out) judgments,
Honest guarantees,
Listening to elders,
50] Turning a deaf ear to the rabble,
Guarding the frontier against every evil,
Let him not be smooth-faced where the good of the tribe is concerned,
Let him not be greasy in the mead-court house —
‘O grandson of Conn, Cormac,’ said Carpre, ‘what are the dues of a chief and of an ale-house?’ ‘Not hard to tell,’ said Cormac.
‘those are the dues of a chief and of an ale-house’ said Cormac to Carbre.
- Good behaviour around a good chief,
5] Lights to lamps,
Exerting oneself for the company,
Settling seats,
Liberality of dispensers,
A nimble hand at distributing,
10] Attentive service,
To love one's lord,
Music in moderation,
Short story-telling,
A joyous countenance,
15] Welcome to companies,
Silence during a recital (?),
Harmonious choruses
‘O grandson of Conn, Cormac,’ said Carpre, ‘whence is
chieftaincy taken over tribes, and clans, and races?’ ‘Not hard to tell,’ said Cormac. ‘By virtue of shape and race
and knowledge, through wisdom and rank and liberality and honesty,
5] by virtue of hereditary right and eloquence, by the strength of fighting and an army it is taken.’
‘Question, what are the proper qualities of a chief?’ said Carpre. ‘Not hard to tell,’ said Cormac.
- Let him have good gessa,
let him be sober,
5] let him be an invader,
let him have good desires,
let him be affable,
let him be humble,
let him be proud,
10] let him be quick,
let him be steadfast,
let him be a poet,
let him be versed in legal lore,
let him be wise,
15] let him be generous,
let him be decorous,
let him be sociable,
let him be gentle,
let him be hard,
20] let him be loving,
let him be merciful,
let him be righteous,
let him be keen,
let him be persevering,
25] let him be patient,
let him be abstinent,
let him raise up the weak by the strong,
let him give true judgments,
let him feed every orphan,
30] let him quell every wrong (?),
let him hate falsehood,
let him love truth,
let him be forgetful of wrong,
let him be mindful of good,
35] let him be attended by a host in gatherings,
let him be attended by few in secret councils,
let him be brilliant in company,
let him be the sun of the mead-hall,
let him be an entertainer of a gathering and assembly,
40] let him be a lover of knowledge and wisdom,
let him be a chastiser of wrong,
let him be masterful to check every one that may be undutiful,
let him judge every one according to his proper right,
let him give his due to each,
45] let him be a judge of every one according to his rank,
let him be liberal to every one according to their degree and profession,
let his covenants be firm,
let his levies be lenient,
let his judgments and decisions be sharp and light,
‘O grandson of Conn, Cormac,’ said Carpre, ‘what were your habits when you were a lad?’ ‘Not hard to tell,’ said Cormac.
‘for it is through those habits that the young become old and kingly warriors.’
- I was a listener in woods,
5] I was a gazer at stars,
I was blind where secrets were concerned,
I was silent in a wilderness,
I was talkative among many,
I was mild in the mead-hall,
10] I was stern in battle,
I was ready to watch,
I was gentle in friendship,
I was a physician of the sick,
I was weak towards the strengthless,
15] I was strong towards the powerful,
I never was hard lest I be satirised,
I never was feeble lest I should have my hair stript off,
I was not close lest I should be burdensome,
I was not arrogant though I was wise,
20] I was not given to promising though I was strong,
I was not venturesome though I was swift,
I did not deride old people though I was young,
I was not boastful though I was a good fighter,
I would not speak about anyone in his absence,
25] I would not reproach, but I would praise,
I would not ask, but I would give,
‘O grandson of Conn, Cormac,’ said Carpre, ‘what were your deeds when you were a young man?’ ‘Not hard to tell,’ said Cormac. ‘
those were my deeds,’ said Cormac to Carbre.
- I would slay a boar, I would follow a track when I was alone,
5] I would march against a troop of five when I was one of five,
I was ready to slay and wreck when I was one of ten,
I was ready for a raid when I was one of twenty,
I was ready to give battle when I was one of a hundred —
‘O grandson of Conn, Cormac,’ said Carpre, ‘what do you deem the worst thing you have seen?’ ‘Not hard to tell,’ said Cormac. ‘Faces of foes in a battle-field.’
‘O grandson of Conn, Cormac,’ said Carpre, ‘what do you deem the sweetest thing you have heard?’
- ‘Not hard to tell,’ said Cormac.
A paean after victory,
5] Praise after wages,
A lady's invitation to her pillow.
‘O grandson of Conn, Cormac,’ said Carpre, ‘ what is best for me?’ ‘Not hard to tell,’ said Cormac. ‘If you listen to my teaching, do not give your honour for ale nor for food, for it is better to save one's fair fame than to save one's food.’
- Be not proud unless you be a land-owner,
5] do not keep bridled steeds without (a stud) of horses,
do not give banquets without (brewing) ale,
be not prodigal of dairy-produce without kine,
do not dress elegantly unless you possess sheep,
are a crime in the gatherings of the world.
- 10] luxury without horses,
banqueting without ale,
dairy-produce without kine,
elegant dress without sheep
‘O grandson of Conn, Cormac,’ said Carpre, ‘what is good for me?’ ‘Not hard to tell,’ said Cormac. ‘If you listen to my teaching,
for every lazy, fierce, sleepy, niggardly, feckless, jealous person is hateful before God and men.’
- do not deride any old person though you are young,
nor a poor one though you are rich,
5] nor a naked one though you are well-clad,
nor a lame one though you are swift,
nor a blind one though you are keen-sighted,
nor an invalid though you are strong,
nor a dull one though you are clever,
10] nor a fool though you are wise,
be not slothful,
be not fierce,
be not sleepy,
be not niggardly,
15] be not feckless,
be not jealous,
‘O grandson of Conn, Cormac,’ said Carpre, ‘how do you
distinguish the race of Adam?’
‘Not hard to tell,’ said Cormac. ‘I distinguish them all, both
men, women, sons, and daughters.’
5]
‘How is that?’ said Carpre.
- Every steadfast person is wise,
every generous person is righteous,
every patient person is persevering,
every studious person is learned,
10] every one who loves his kindred is gentle,
every healthy person is joyous,
every sleek person is sleepy,
every boor is crabbed,
every athlete is dull-witted,
15] every madcap is a laughing-stock,
every serf is morose,
every indigent person is proud,
every uninformed person is quarrelsome,
every ignoramus is shameless,
20] every timorous person is apprehensive,
every infirm person is candid,
every ill-favoured person is given to fostering,
every anxious person is timid,
every timorous person is cautious,
25] every timid person is ruthless,
every indigent person is fraudulent,
every contentious person is a frequenter of meetings,
every satiated person is fond of dogs,
every lover likes a dainty bed,
30] every wealthy person is fond of jewels,
every freeman is broad-tracked,
every genial person is generous,
every satirical person is ... ,
every horseman is nimble,
35] every falsehood is bitter,
everything true is sweet,
skilful women are honey-mouthed,
bad women are given to try sting,
ill-met are their sons, woe to him who has them!
‘O grandson of Conn, Cormac,’ said Carpre, ‘and the ways of folly, what is their number?’ ‘Not hard to tell,’ said Cormac.
‘that is the way of folly’ said Cormac.
- Swearing after judgment,
5] rash judgments,
rousing anger,
false grumbling,
chiding truth,
renouncing the prayer-house,
10] reversing judgments,
a cast without a proper grip,
sorrow at a feast,
a lying chief,
laughter at an old man,
concealing ancient lore.
15] playing upon a cliff,
a cast without a proper grip,
competing with a fool,
being haughty with a king,
not to fulfil the law,
20] to fulfil whatever is evil,
(to harbour) evil against an ally,
to keep company with every one,
to hold any new thing fair,
to hold everything familiar tin enemy,
25] to act without a witness,
being a feeble master,
buying judgments,
to be without treasures,
much lending,
30] many friends,
sorrow in the presence of a king,
talking much without wisdom, —
- Knowledge deserves to be honoured,
wisdom vanquishes valour,
every timid person is opinionate,
every lover is melancholy,
5] every sick person is ... ,
every liar is quarrelsome,
every fool is dangerous,
every arrogant person runs a risk,
every fierce person is ready to strike,
10] every farmer is prudent,
every bad warrior is violent,
every person with vested interests is shameless,
every timorous person is easily frightened,
everything dark is awful,
15] every plebeian is low,
whoever is fond of ease is corpulent,
every unfortunate person is vehement.
every guilty person is apprehensive,
every reviler is precipitate,
20] every cautious person is timorous,
every foul-mouthed person is quarrelsome,
every one fond of company is brilliant,
every brave tribe is fond of gatherings,
every brave king holds encampments,
25] every aggressor is puissant,
every bold person is cheerful,
every big talker is neglectful,
every one making promises readily is false,
every lavish person is overweening,
30] every hasty person is ridiculous
every powerful person is liable to be reviled,
every reviler is stubborn,
every sensible person is competent,
every faithful person is a good counsellor,
35] every indocile person is cowardly,
every docile person is sage,
every worthy person is a cognizance,
every good art produces wealth,
every indigent person is humane.
‘O grandson of Conn, Cormac,’ said Carpre, ‘how do you distinguish women?’ ‘Not hard to tell,’ said Cormac. ‘I distinguish them, but I make no difference among them.’
‘he will have neither honour nor life nor fame who listens to bad women’ said Cormac to Carpe.
- They are crabbed as constant companions,
haughty when visited,
5] lewd when neglected,
silly counsellors,
greedy of increase,
they have tell-tale faces,
they are quarrelsome in company,
10] desirous of letting go,
greedy of gifts,
putting up with exaggeration,
hard and grasping,
steadfast in hate,
15] forgetful of love,
thirsting (?) for lust,
anxious for alliance,
accustomed to slander,
dishonest in an assembly,
20] stubborn in a quarrel,
not to be trusted with a secret,
ever intent on pilfering,
boisterous in their jealousy,
ever ready for an excuse
25] on the pursuit of folly,
quick to engage,
ready to pledge,
neglectful of earning,
ready to injure,
30] never ready to heal,
they check what they do not attain,
they betray what they do not save,
haughty when wooed,
slanderers of worth,
35] slow to make use of things,
scamping their work,
stiff when paying a visit,
disdainful of good men,
gloomy and stubborn,
40] forgetful of restraint,
mindful of strife,
feeble in a contest,
viragos in strife,
prodigal at a feast,
45] sorrowful in an ale-house,
sturdy in wrangling,
indolent of exertion,
tearful during music,
lustful in bed,
50] arrogant and disingenuous,
abettors of strife,
niggardly with food,
incredulous of speech,
rejecting wisdom,
55] vigorous of speech,
quick to revile,
tenacious in cohabitation,
setting themselves against comfort,
alive to discomfort,
60] indolent in gathering,
ever in the company of folly,
quick to promise,
harbouring evil thoughts,
eager to go into society,
65] sulky on a journey,
troublesome bedfellows,
deaf to instruction,
blind to good advice,
fatuous in society,
70] craving for delicacies,
small givers,
chary in their presents,
languid when being solicited,
exceeding all bounds in keeping others waiting,
75] shameless on visits,
tedious talkers,
persevering in lust,
close practitioners,
skilled in pleasure-seeking,
80] unskilled in obedience,
prattling... ,
dumb on useful matters,
eloquent on trifles,
painstaking about an elegant head-dress,
85] they utter what they do not perform,
they attempt what they do not finish,
they watch what they do not get,
they turn aside what they do not secure,
they vow what they do not make true,
90] they promise what they do not fulfil,
they separate what they do not redeem (?),
they destroy what they do not save,
they scatter what they do not gather,
they affirm what they cannot do,
95] they strive after what they do not effect,
they break up what they cannot collect,
they give away what they do not levy,
they lavish what they cannot husband,
[fire is good at any time,]
100] happy he who does not yield to them,
they should he dreaded like fire,
they should be feared like wild beasts,
women are capricious beasts,
[a wood is good at every season,]
105] woe to him who humours them,
better to whip them than to humour them,
better to scourge them than to gladden them,
better to beat them than to coddle them,
better to smite them than to please them,
110] better to beware of them than to trust them,
better to trample upon them than to fondle them,
better to crush them than to cherish them, —
- 115] They are waves that drown you,
they are fire that burns you,
they are two-edged weapons that cut you,
they are moths for sticking to one,
they are serpents for cunning,
120] they are darkness in light,
they are bad among the good,
they are worse among the bad.
‘O grandson of Conn, Cormac,’ said Carpre, ‘how do you distinguish weathers?’ ‘Not hard to tell,’ said Cormac.
- Ice is the mother of corn,
snow is the father of fat,
5] a shower is a presage of bloodshed,
drought is a presage of pestilence,
wind is most troublesome in a strait,
the best of weathers is mist,
better his brother rain,
10] save for the sea, thunder is not fruitful.
‘O grandson of Conn, Cormac,’ said Carpre, ‘what is the worst housekeeping?’ ‘Not hard to tell. A housekeeping by which neither honour nor life is bought. There is another housekeeping which is worse: ‘Get, fetch, take, bring!’’
Item Cormac ad Carpre.
- Do not contend with a king,
do not forgather with a fool,
do not associate with a marauder,
5] do not fraternize with an evil-doer,
do not buy from the seven imbeciles according to the law of the Irish,
viz. from a woman, from a caitiff, from a drunken person, from a buffoon, from a madman, from a superior,
from a ... ,
do not race against a wheel, nor against the cast of a
10] spear, nor up a great height, nor against the surf of the sea, nor against danger, nor a lance,
do not join in blasphemy,
be not the laughing-stock of an assembly,
be not sorrowful in an alehouse,
be not forgetful of an assignation,
15] do not be indocile,
do not be a wrangler against truth,
take no cognizance of falsehood,
do not be the servant of robbers,
do not be a leader in strife,
20] do not be a bush of discord,
do not lend your lips to every one,
do not promise what you have not,
be not fond of buying lest you be encumbered by debts,
be no fighter lest you be disgraced,
25] be not contentious lest you be hateful,
be no wrangler lest you get your head broken,
be not rough lest you become ungainly,
be not quarrelsome lest you be ... ,
be not an absentee lest you become negligent,
30] be not hard lest you become churlish,
be not too generous lest you be left stranded,
be not lazy lest you become enfeebled,
do not bustle too much lest you become vile,
be not cantankerous lest you become unsociable,
35] do not become a guarantor for any one lest your neighbour ...
‘O grandson of Conn, Cormac,’ said Carpre, ‘what is most lasting on earth?’ ‘Not hard to tell. Grass, copper, a yew-tree.’
‘O grandson of Conn, Cormac,’ said Carpre, ‘what is the worst for the body of man?’ ‘Not hard to tell,’ said Cormac. ‘Sitting too long, lying too long, long standing, heavy lifts, exertions beyond one's strength, ...,
5]
running too much, leaping too much, frequent falls, sleeping with one's leg over the bedrail, swift racing, gazing at glowing embers, stepping in the dark, wax, beestings, new ale, bull-flesh, curdles, dry food, bog-water, rising too early, cold, sun, hunger, drinking too
‘O grandson of Conn, Cormac,’ said Carpre, ‘what is the worst pleading and arguing?’ ‘Not hard to tell,’ said Cormac. ‘ Seventeen signs of bad pleading, viz.
’
- Contending against knowledge,
5] taking refuge in bad language,
much abuse,
contending without proofs,
stiffness of delivery,
a muttering speech,
10] hair-splitting,
uncertain proofs,
despising books,
turning against customs,
talking in too loud a voice,
15] shifting one's pleading,
inciting the multitude,
fighting everybody,
blowing one's own trumpet,
shouting at the top of one's voice,
20] swearing after judgment.
‘O grandson of Conn, Cormac,’ said Carpre, ‘what is the worst pleading?’ ‘Not hard to tell,’ said Cormac. ‘A rash forgetful pleading.’
‘O grandson of Conn, Cormac,’ said Carpre, ‘what is the worst arguing?’ ‘Not hard to tell,’ said Cormac. ‘An argument based on oaths, a feeble, slow, stiff argument.’
‘O grandson of Conn, Cormac,’ said Carpre, ‘what is the worst arguing before an assembly?’ ‘Not hard to tell,’ said Cormac.
- A violent, stubborn, long-winded arguing,
5] an unsteady arguing,
a hollow loose suing,
a vehement oblivious pleading,
rousing anger,
very violent urging,
10] playing a dangerous game,
rash reckless oaths,
a loud open-mouthed answer,
to disconcert the meeting,
slanderous words,
15] hand ...
‘O grandson of Conn, Cormac,’ said Carpre, ‘what is the worst pleading?’ ‘Not hard to tell,’ said Cormac.
- A pleading without instruction, without knowledge,
violence in discussion,
5] discussion without reason,
a pleading without choice, without restraint, without grasp, without practice.
‘O grandson of Conn, Cormac,’ said Carpre, ‘who are the worst for whom you have a comparison?’ ‘Not hard to tell,’ said Cormac.
‘and he wise, lying, grey-haired, violent, swearing, garrulous when he says ‘the matter is settled, I swear, I shall swear.’’
- A man with the impudence of a satirist,
5] with the pugnacity of a slave-woman,
with the carelessness of a ... dog,
with the conscience of a hound,
with a robber's hand,
with a bull's strength,
10] with the dignity of a judge,
with keen ingenious wisdom,
with the speech of a stately man,
with the memory of an historian,
with the behaviour of an abbot,
15] with the swearing of a horse-thief,
‘O grandson of Conn, Cormac,’ said Carpre, ‘who are the worst for whom you further have a comparison?’ ‘Not hard to tell,’ said Cormac. ‘A rough, bitter, rude, violent, vehement, vulgar, impetuous, forgetful, noisy, impudent, after-wise man, to whom no one attends, who does not attend to any one, who does not care what anyone else says, while no one cares what he says, and he proscribed both by the laity and by the Church.’
‘O grandson of Conn, Cormac,’ said Carpre, ‘I desire to know how I shall behave among the wise and the foolish, among friends and strangers, among the old and the young, among the innocent and the wicked.’ ‘Not hard to tell,’ said Cormac.
- 5] Be not too wise, be not too foolish,
be not too conceited, be not too diffident,
be not too haughty, be not too humble,
be not too talkative, be not too silent,
be not too harsh, be not too feeble.
If you be too wise, one will expect (too much) of you;
10] if you be too foolish, you will be deceived;
if you be too conceited, you will be thought vexatious;
if you be too humble, you will be without honour;
if you be too talkative, you will not be heeded;
15] if you be too silent, you will not be regarded;
if you be too harsh, you will be broken;
if you be too feeble, you will be crushed.
‘A question,’ ol Carpre, ‘how shall I be?’ ‘Not hard to tell,’ said Cormac.
- Be wise with the wise lest anyone deceive you in wisdom,
be proud with the proud lest anyone make you tremble,
5] be humble with the humble when your will is being done,
be talkative with the talkative ...
be silent with the silent when a recital is being listened to,
be hard with the hard lest anyone slight you,
be gentle with the gentle lest everyone ... you.
Cormac further has said this: ‘
A docile, humble, obedient young man of a nice conscience and confession, his youth will be lovable, his old age venerable, his word
- Every one is wise till he comes to sell his heritage,
every one is foolish till he buys land,
every one is a friend till it comes to debts,
5] every one is a law-giver till it comes to children,
every one is sleepy till it comes to marrying,
every one is ferocious till it comes to piety,
every one is fair-famed till he is satirised,
every one is a hospitaller till he refuses (to entertain),
10] every one is a roving warrior till he takes up husbandry,
every one is a mercenary till he settles in a dwelling,
every one is compos mentis till he becomes drunk,
every one is reasonable till he gets angry,
every one is decorous till he commits adultery,
15] every one is tranquil till he has foster-children,
every one is a counsellor till he begins to quarrel,
every one is a citizen till he is proclaimed,
every one is joyful till he meets with ill-luck,
every one is bold till he meets with a refusal,
20] every one is a pedestrian till he drives a chariot,
all music is holy till it comes to the harp,
every fortunate creature is fair,
every unfortunate creature is foul,
the sweetest part of sleep is cohabitation,
25] the sweetest part of ale is the first draught,
music is sweetest in the dark,
the sweetest part of a meal is the honorific portion.
‘O grandson of Conn, Cormac,’ said Carpre, ‘what is the code of ridicule among the Irish?’ ‘Not hard to tell,’ said Cormac.
‘..., timorous, violent, impulsive, incautious, loveless, ... tedious, angry.’
- A man proud of his wisdom, his gifts, his good fortune,
fastidious, standing on his dignity, vainglorious,
5] a lazy, violent, feeble, flighty man,
a silly, dull, big-worded man,
a wrathful, aggressive, masterful man,
a man niggardly, unstable, jealous,
‘O grandson of Conn, Cormac,’ said Carpre, ‘who is the worst guarantor?’ ‘Not hard to tell,’ said Cormac. ‘ A black-mouthed guarantor of small honour, who sells his cheek and his knee and his hand and his breast and his heart and the honour of his children and of his race and his valour.’
- 5] His amends are barren,
his honour-price is hollow,
his character is changeable (?),
his ... is short,
his protection is narrow,
10] his arm is not smaller than his dignity,
his figure is a pattern of mockery in the sight of all men,
he is a hang-head butt of ridicule wherever he go or be.
‘O son, if you listen to me,’ said Cormac, ‘this is my instruction to you: ’
- Do not let a man with friends be your steward,
nor a woman with sons and fostersons your housekeeper,
nor a man of many desires your dispenser,
5] nor a man of much delay your miller,
nor a violent foul-mouthed man your messenger,
nor a grumbling sluggard your servant,
nor a garrulous man your counsellor,
nor a bibulous man your cup-bearer,
10] nor a man with a bad sight your watchman,
nor a bitter, haughty man your doorkeeper,
nor a compassionate man your judge,
nor a man without knowledge your leader,
nor an unfortunate man your adviser.
‘grandson of Conn, whom do you deem the deafest you have heard?’ ‘Not hard to tell.’
- A fey person who is being warned,
one who is asked what he does not like,
the tattle of a silly woman.
‘O grandson of Conn, what are the best seasons’ ‘Not hard to tell.’
- A fine frosty winter,
a dry windy spring,
a droughty showery summer,
5] a fruitful autumn with heavy dews.
‘O grandson of Conn, what do you think the worst you have heard?’
- An outcry after outrage,
the groan of disease,
a womanish quarrel between two men.